Going into the summer transfer window as Premier League champions, hope sprang eternal for Arsenal.
An opportunity to capitalise, encouraged by a sense at Emirates Stadium that their competitors were in transition because of managerial instability.
If ever there was a moment to strike in recruitment, this was it.
The plans were ambitious: a shortlist with more than 20 players on it. They were targets at Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, even at Chelsea and Tottenham.
